When the Dead Rise (Book 1): The Beginning (19 page)

"I want you on the forklift." She jerked her finger over her shoulder to the still idling machine. "I need you to drive around the outskirts of the site, gathering the medians into the dump truck and unloading them there." She indicated the small pile she'd already started. Kev nodded, but didn't move. She took a deep, steadying breath, "You can get started now... we're short on time."

With a nod, Kev jogged off; Aisha turned to Carl, a huge man known to most of the crew as Tiny. "Tiny, I need you to stick with Kev in the dump truck. Load up as many medians as you can at a time, but try to keep an eye on how many we have left. Just make sure we don't run out and are sitting around waiting for more."

"Sure thing!" Tiny said, saluting Aisha before he made his way to the truck.

"Chris, I want you in one of the bulldozers and Bert you're in the other; I'll be operating the excavator. Rudy, you can coordinate between the three of us and you six," she motioned to half of the remaining men, "make sure that we're moving at an even pace and not getting backed up."

The helicopter lifted off the overpass and everyone turned to watch it fly overhead, headed west once again. "What the hell is going on?" someone asked.

"I've been told we're not to ask questions. That we're to get the barricade built as quickly as possible and then we're free to leave," Aisha said, turning back to the men. "As for the rest of you, I want you at the barricade. We need to get the medians in place and secured so they don't topple once we start stacking them. I'll get the sergeant to come give you directions for spacing once we get to that point." She looked around the group, waiting for questions, but when they remained silent, Aisha clapped her hands. "If any questions come up, just call on the radio; we can't waste time running around. We've got a lot to do before sunset, but I know we can get it done."

The group broke apart, leaving Aisha and Rudy standing alone. "Good job boss." He winked.

Snorting, Aisha replied, "I'm not the boss. I'm just the one who was unfortunate enough to still be here when the army arrived."

Approaching horizon...

"Can you hear that?" someone whispered.

Having worked for close to an hour, they'd gotten the first level of the barricade in place. Not want to miscalculate the spacing needed between the barriers; Aisha called for a five-minute break while they waited for the sergeant.

Aisha paused and listened; her ears still hummed from being in the excavator for so long, but she could definitely hear something - she just wasn't sure what.

"Why are you all standing around?" Jenkins shouted from behind them; they all turned in unison. "We need to have that barrier up before nightfall." Obviously irritated by the delay, he studied the group around him before looking to the setting sun. "We have less than an hour left of daylight and while we do have lights set up for after sunset, I'd hoped to have you evacuated from the area by then."

"Um," Kev spoke up, "I know we aren't supposed to ask questions, but what the hell is that noise?"

"Trouble," was Jenkins reply. He turned to Aisha, "Now, what's causing this delay?"

Rudy stepped forward, eying Jenkins. "We need to know how far apart you want the barriers on the next two levels."

Giving Aisha a withering look, Jenkins snapped, "I told you that we need only enough space for the gun barrels."

Tiny stepped in front of Aisha, crossing his barrel arms over his huge chest. "Does that mean an inch or a foot?" the big man growled. "Construction is pretty precise and we're not going to half-ass our work just to save time. If we aren't precise, and something goes wrong, it'll be on us." Aisha suppressed a smile when the sergeant's face paled.

"Uh... Um..." he stuttered, glancing down at his hands, measuring out approximately four inches. "About this big?"

Tiny snorted, not backing down.

"Four inches it is." Aisha placed a hand on Tiny's arm. The big man looked down at her with a raised eyebrow as if to say, 'you're going to let him off that easy?' She nodded almost imperceptibly and Tiny dropped his arms, stepping back behind her. "We'll get back to it and hopefully have this done within the hour." The men dispersed, returning to their work.

"ETA in one-point-two-five hours," the radio on Jenkins’ belt squawked; he immediately turned down the volume, cutting off whatever the responder said. "Just get it done before dark," he sighed and walked away.

By the time they'd completed their task the sun had set, the last of its rays still illuminated the horizon in gold's, red's and oranges; it appeared as if the sky was on fire.

So beautiful, and yet, somehow ominous.
Pushing her apprehension aside, Aisha smiled at her team. "Thanks for all the hard work guys." They'd all come together and worked quickly and efficiently, completing the barricade before dusk.

"When this is over I'll buy you all a round of drinks." Jenkins' offer was rewarded by cheering from the men. He turned to face Aisha, smiling sheepishly, "I'm sorry for questioning your ability to get all this done in time. You've done a great job in motivating your people and coordinating their work." She waved his comment off, but inside she knew she'd made a breakthrough, finally gaining the respect and loyalty of her crew.

"Look there." Kev pointed down the I10 towards western horizon.

They all turned and a collective gasp went up from the group. On the hill, less than a mile down the road, a black line began to form on the horizon, contrasting with the bright skyline.

Jenkins whipped out his radio. "Command, I have a visual; they're earlier than expected. Over."

"Get the construction crew behind the barrier, and we'll move onto the next phase. Over and out." The radio crackled back a moment later.

A cold chill crept up Aisha's back as the faint, eerie chorus of moans reached her ears.

"What the hell's all of that?" Rudy whispered to Aisha, so the other wouldn't overhear. She only shrugged in response, unable to take her eyes from the growing line of dense shadow.

"What is that smell?" Kev said, covering his nose. "It smells like death." The others around Aisha sniffed the air, making disgusted faces at one another; whispers rippled through the group.

"We've got to get behind the barrier," Jenkins barked, pointing to the exit ramps.

"Wait!" Aisha grabbed Jenkins arm, holding him back as the others quickly made their way across the grassy expanse between the highway and exit. Jenkins’ jaw tightened, but he remained silent. "We've blocked off the underpass, but the ramps are still open. Do you think that whatever this is will simply ignore the easy off-ramps?"

Concern crossed Jenkins strong features and then resolve. He nodded curtly, "You don't know what we're up against, but you're right. They'll push up against the barrier and spread out, eventually finding their way over the guard rails."

"There isn't anything I can do about a proper blockade, but I can at least push the rails so Pin Oak isn't as easily accessible as it is now."

Jenkins shook his head, pulling out his radio. "Come in command."

The radio hissed, "Go ahead Sergeant."

"I'd like to request that the tanks be repositioned to the ramp exits; the crew lead has pointed out the oversight and I agree with her assessment. Over."

"Copy that; Lieutenant Howard has acknowledged and will take your suggestion into advisement. Command out." The radio hissed again then fell silent.

"You have tanks here?" Astonished, Aisha gazed at Jenkins with wide eyes. "Can I look at them afterwards?"

The rumbling sounds of engines were soon followed by the appearance of two tanks - one at either exit. Aisha gaped and Jenkins chuckled. "You know, given your obsession with heavy machinery and obvious talent, I think you'd like being in the army. We have some pretty big toys."

Aisha snorted, but didn't take her eyes off the tanks, watching as the massive barrels swung westwards. "I don't think the army can handle me." They stood in silence, watching the tanks adjust their angles. She peered up at Jenkins, unsure if he'd give her answers now that the threat was upon them. "What's really happening here Sergeant? I've never seen anything like this before." Bright spotlights suddenly illuminated the highway, blinding them both.

"Here." Jenkins handed her a set of binoculars, turning to face away from the bright lights.

After a hesitant moment, Aisha took the binoculars. In the dim light, she could make out tiny, shadowy figures walking down the highway in a clumsy, staggering line. The line spanned the width of the east and west bound highways as well as both access roads. "What's going on?"

Jenkins cleared his throat. "It's a horde from San Antonio."

Aisha lowered the binoculars, confused by the sergeant's words. "A horde of what?" A sick feeling started in the pit of her stomach as she took in the approaching group, their moans and the intensifying smell of rot.

After a long pause, Jenkins sighed, "there is no oil spill in San Antonio." He scrutinized her for a moment before continuing. "Earlier, when you joked about us preparing for an army of undead, you were actually right on the money."

A small gasp slipped past Aisha's lips and her stomach clenched in fear. It was a dream... it was a drill... it couldn't be real... shit like this only happened in movies and zombies sure as hell didn't exist in real life.

Jenkins went on, oblivious to Aisha's inner turmoil. "Several days ago, we lost contact with our barricades surrounding San Antonio. We sent out three helicopters to investigate and quickly realized that we had two hordes on the move - one is approaching Houston and the other hit Austin yesterday. We don't know why they're moving in herds out of San Antonio, nor do we know why they're traveling along the highways to the major cities. We do know that the horde has swelled in numbers as it's traveled down the interstate - that the one headed here is approximately two hundred thousand strong."

They stood in silence for a long moment, neither sure what to say next. Jenkins radio broke the silence, "Sergeant, we need you behind the barrier. Our eye in the sky has just informed us that the horde's speed has increased. It appears they've caught the scent of fresh meat and are in a bit of a frenzy. We have reports that members of the horde have broken ahead of the large body and will make contact within the next ten minutes. The Lieutenant wants the area clear, so we can begin launching mortars. Over."

"Roger," Jenkins said, keying the radio. He turned, jerking his head to the newly constructed barricade. "Let's get behind the line of fire."

"I think that you need to talk to your Lieutenant, and convince him to let me in front of the barricade with the tandem roller and a bulldozer," Aisha called after Jenkins.

He jerked to a halt, glancing back with a thoughtful expression. "We have enough firepower; sitting in those machines in front of the barricade will only get you killed."

"Think about it." Aisha caught up to him but went on knowing she had to give him a reason his superior couldn't refute. "You'll have all those bodies pressed up against the barrier and it won't hold forever - not with how little time we had to put it up. Besides, the ones who fall will just begin to pile up. The bulldozer can easily clear away the bodies."

Chuckling, Jenkins shook his head, "and the tandem roller? Where does that fit in?"

"That's the best part," Aisha smiled, "a tandem roller won't leave much more than a smear behind."

Long night...

Gunshots rang out from the barricade as mortar rounds exploded in the distance; Aisha dialed her cell phone. She sat in the tandem roller with Tiny in the bulldozer beside her, surrounded by the moaning undead while waiting for the order to clear the road.

The phone rang once, and her friend Sarah answered with a perky, "Hey Aisha, I thought you were staying in tonight."

"Change of plans," Aisha half shouted.

"What? I can barely hear you. Are you watching an action movie?"

"I feel like I'm in an action movie," Aisha replied, rubbing her weary eyes with the back of her hand. "Listen Sarah, there's something going on at the construction site. The army's here..."

"The army?" Sarah shouted back to be heard over the loud boom. "What's the army doing there?"

"Listen to me." Aisha didn't have time to answer inconsequential questions. "You need to get as many supplies as you can and however many people you can gather and head for Curt's place on the gulf. Something really bad is about to hit Houston and you need to get out."

"What are you talking about Aisha?" Sarah snorted, not understanding the gravity of the situation. "Curt just got back yesterday from being out on the water for a month and Heather doesn't want any company for a few days."

"Just fucking do it," Aisha snapped, her patience running thin. "Gather who and what you can. Make sure everyone has enough food and water to last at least a month and get to Curt's. I'll try to get there within the next twenty-four hours."

"Whoa, hold on a minute." Sarah sounded irritated by Aisha's outburst. "Why do you want me to do this?"

"There's a horde of fucking zombies headed into Houston and if you don't get out now, you may never be able to."

Sarah snorted, "Zombies? Make sure to bring some of whatever you're on next time you come over."